By-pass joint for well testers



I. THOMAS v INVENTO ZJ MS 770/104 1 ATTORNEY/L Filed Feb. 4, 1955 4April 13, 1.937.

' 7 aY-mss JOINT FOR WELL TESTERS Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention is a joint or coupling for use in a well tester assemblyof the general class shown in the Burright United States Patent No.1,601,676.

The utility of such devices is to provide for upward escape of wellliquid from below the entering or foot parts on the tester and upthrough the tester to a discharge usually above the well packer commonlyemployed in these tools. Then when the packer has been set at thedesired level in the hole the joint is so operated as to shut the escapeports and therefore exclude the inflow of the liquid into the testerfrom the formation strata above the set packing. Further, when thetester is to be pulled from the hole or well, the

joint serves the further function of again opening the escape ports andallows the liquid in the tester and above the outlet ports to drain fromthe tester and hence reduce the total load to be pulled from the hole orwell.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, practicaland reliable flow control joint of this type.

Another object is to provide a flow control joint of such structure asto ofier as large bore passage as is practical.

An additional object is to provide a tubular, telescopic side-flow valvemeans incorporating an efficient packing feature.

The invention consists of certain advancements in this art as set forthin the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additionalobjects' and advantages as hereinafter developed, and

whose construction, combination and details of means, and the manner ofoperation will be made manifest in the description of the herewithillustrative embodiment; it being understood that modifications,variations and adaptations may be resorted to within the scope, spiritand principle of the invention as it is more directly claimedhereinbelow. It is understood that the, functional use of the apparatusof this invention in this disclosure in any other art than that hereinset forth is deemed to be within the adaptation of the invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the joint in the testerassembly; the joint parts being in open or liquid-flow position.

Figure 2 is a cross-section on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

As here exhibited the joint includes a 'by-pass nipple 2 having escapeports 3 disposed below a by-pass sub" or member 4 to which the nipple issecured as by threads 5. The lower end of the nipple is slidably splinedby keys 6 in bushing 1 secured in the near end of a sleeve 8 having aflange 9 abutting a bodyof packing material Ill which may be expanded toseal oil the hole or well at the desired level.

60 On the bottom end of the nipple 2 is a lateral shoulder 2underhanging the bushing I and thus carrying the tester parts hangingfrom the bushing. If desired a spring ll may be used between the bottomof the nipple 2 and the sleeve-8 to offer a desired degree of resistanceto relative downward movement of the nipple in the tester member 8.

It is very desirable to effect a leak-proof closure of the nipple as tothe bushing when the joint parts are relatively closed to cover theescape ports 3 and seal the well liquid or circulation mud from thetester.

To that end the joint parts 2 and 8 are provided with opposed, meetingareas one of which consists of a body of packing material. In thepresent case the member I is provided with an annular, embedded packingbody I! surrounding the nipple just above the row of ports 3, and theopposed, upper end of the bushing I surrounding the nipple is providedwith an annular bead I3 whereon the packing I! will seat when the upperparts of the tester are lowered, in the process of testing the hole.

It will be seen that the escape ports 3 may be opened or closed as oftenas desired by raising the upper part of the tester with the attachedjoint nipple while the lower part of the tester is at rest with the setpacker or standing on the bottom of the hole being tested.

The sleeve 8 is here shown as extending down through the wall packer l0and connected to a packer ring I! by a shear pin l5. Attached to thering it is any suitable tester bottom l6, and when this or the packerring is set hard against formation downward pressure of the sub-section4 on the bead iii of the bushing 1 will, when the pressure is enough,shear the pin I5 and the packer ill will be expanded in the usualmanner. At this timethe escape ports 3 are closed and test of liquidbelow the packer can be carried on without inflow of well liquid fromabove the packer.

What is claimed is:

A by-pass joint for oil well testers, including a lower sleeve memben'abushing threaded in and seating on the upper end of the sleeve andhaving a stop shoulder on its lower end within the said sleeve member, aby-pass nipple whose lower; end is telescopically splined in saidbushing and having intermediate its length outlets over the upper end ofsaid bushing in the open position of the nipple as to the bushing, anupper well tester string member to which the upper end of the nipple isattached, the lower. end of the nipple having a suspending part toengage with the said shoulder of the bushing, and means to pack thecontiguous ends of the said bushing and the said upper string memberwhen the joint nipple is closed. IDRIS THOMAS.

